The text describes the tombstone of Alexander, Duke of Mazovia, located in the nave of St Stephen's Church in Vienna. The text also presents Alexander's life story (Source: Tygodnik Illustrowany, Warsaw 1878, Series 3, T:6, p. 410, after: University of Łódź Digital Library).

A modernised reading of the text

The sepulchral monument of Alexander, Duke of Mazovia.

The tombstone, of which we give a likeness here, made of reddish marble, is located in the left nave of St Stephen's Church in Vienna. The inscription surrounding it is as follows:

"Anno Dni MCCCCXLIII die seda (secunda) Jnensis Junii o (obiit) reverendis (simus) in Xto (Christo) Pr (pater) et Illmus (illustrissimus) Princeps ac Dims (dominus) Dnus Alexander Dei gratia S (anctae) 11 (Romanac) E (cclesiae) Cardinalis, Patriarch Aquileae, Administrator Eccl (esiae) Trident (inensis), Dux Masoviae. Cujus aia (anima) vivat in Deo.".

More extensive details on the monument itself can be found in Fr Kulczycki's book "O pamiątkach polskich w Wiedniu", and in the work "Der Dom zu St. Stephan in Wien" by von Perger (Triest 1854).

As for Duke Aleksander, it is known from history that he was the son of Ziemowit and Aleksandra Olgierdówna, the native sister of Władysław Jagiełło. Proposed in 1412 as a candidate for the Bishopric of Poznań after the death of Piotr Wisz, he did not prevail against Jędrzej of Gosławice; so he sought his fortune abroad, at the court of Duke Ernest Żelazny of Raucki, married to his sister Cymbark, father of the later Emperor Friedrich III. In 1422 he was rector of the Cracow Academy, and having devoted himself exclusively to the clerical state, he later became bishop of Trent. In 1440, Felix V appointed him cardinal, a title he held until his death, although Felix was subsequently counted among the antipopes.

As uncle to the German Emperor Frederick III and cousin to the Polish King Ladislaus of Varna, Duke Alexander could have occupied a very important position; however, he was probably lacking in diplomatic skills, since his two missions to Poland and Germany on papal matters did not have the desired effect. Frederick III gave him the rectory of St Stephen in Vienna, but the prince did not manage it personally, only through a vicar and governor. He died in 1443, according to an inscription on his tomb, and not in 1444 as stated by the late Duke of Vienna. 1444 according to the late Julian Bartoszewicz in Orgelbrand's Encyclopaedia Wielka.